Munster vs Cheetahs, Sat 1st Sep 5.15pm, Eir Sports

thomond2006

Munster:
Mike Haley; Darren Sweetnam, Dan Goggin, Rory Scannell, Shane Daly; JJ Hanrahan, Neil Cronin;
Dave Kilcoyne, Mike Sherry, John Ryan; Jean Kleyn, Billy Holland (C); Dave O’Callaghan, Tommy O’Donnell, Arno Botha.

Replacements: Rhys Marshall, Brian Scott, Stephen Archer, Darren O’Shea, Gavin Coombes, James Hart, Joey Carbery, Sammy Arnold.

Cheetahs:
15 Malcolm Jaer
14 Rabz Maxwane
13 Benhard Janse van Rensburg
12 Nico Lee
11 William Small-Smith
10 Tian Schoeman
9 Shaun Venter
1 Ox Nche
2 Jacques du Toit
3 Luan de Bruin
4 Justin Basson
5 JP du Preez
6 Junior Pokomela
7 Oupa Mohoje
8 Jasper Wiese

16 Joseph Dweba
17 Charles Marais
18 Aranos Coetzee
19 Walt Steenkamp
20 Aidon Davis
21 Tian Meyer
22 Ernst Stapelberg
23 Ryno Eksteen

It's a pleasant surprise to see Joey Carbery make his debut so soon, I didn't expect him to be available for a few rounds. Hopefully this means Tadhg Beirne could be available to play next weekend in Glasgow. Shane Daly gets a start on the wing and Neil Cronin gets the nod at 9 ahead of James Hart (Duncan Williams' availability or otherwise hasn't been confirmed). We get our first look at the Cheetahs after a revolving door off-season. Most of the starting XV didn't feature in last year's visit to Thomond Park.

Buer

A tiring Cheetahs side in Limerick is about as ideal a scenario as you could want for Carbery coming onto the field.

He's going to roast someone in defence tomorrow.

I was going to watch the Ulster game tomorrow as there is greater scope for a game of rugby and I think Munster will annihilate the Cheetahs.

I might switch over for the second half however with the prospect of crying into my tea when Carbery comes on!

kuang1

I'm delighted to see TOD and Arnold named.

Goggin has never overly impressed me. Maybe he'll bolt!

E mac

His name on the bench alone will surely boost attendances. And yes I'll be there.

jacothelad

Deleted User wrote: »

I was going to watch the Ulster game tomorrow as there is greater scope for a game of rugby and I think Munster will annihilate the Cheetahs.

I might switch over for the second half however with the prospect of crying into my tea when Carbery comes on!

Oh come on! Carbery won't be that bad.....:D:D:D:D:D

aloooof

kuang1 wrote: »

I'm delighted to see TOD and Arnold named.

Goggin has never overly impressed me. Maybe he'll bolt!

Ya, Goggin is solid if unspectacular. He's way down the pecking order tho, 5th choice centre at best?

Delighted for TOD recovering from that injury pretty quickly.

Henry Ford III

The Cheetahs weren't that bad last season. Made the playoffs after all.

p.s. Is this game on tv?

Squidgy Black

Henry Ford III wrote: »

The Cheetahs weren't that bad last season. Made the playoffs after all.

p.s. Is this game on tv?

They've been completely gutted of most of their starters from last season.

Clegg

Cheetahs lost half their squad in the summer and have replaced them with new players. Yet to be seen how good they'll be this season.

Feel really bad for their fans actually. Thrown out of Super Rugby and replaced by a few sides that weren't any better than theirs. In their new league they actually perform well only to see their best players poached by NH sides who actually took notice now they were playing in a league closer to home.

thomond2006

Clegg wrote: »

Cheetahs lost half their squad in the summer and have replaced them with new players. Yet to be seen how good they'll be this season.

Feel really bad for their fans actually. Thrown out of Super Rugby and replaced by a few sides that weren't any better than theirs. In their new league they actually perform well only to see their best players poached by NH sides who actually took notice now they were playing in a league closer to home.

They weren't replaced. The Kings, Cheetahs and Western Force were simply cut from the tournament.

It's going to be an uphill struggle for them this season, if only because Connacht and Ospreys can't be as poor as they were at stages last season. Unfortunately South Africa based players will make multiples of their salary in the NH so poaching is inevitable. They do have an excellent breeding ground in Grey College who have produced professional players and Springboks for decades. They'll need a conveyor belt of talent to keep them competitive.

errlloyd

thomond2006 wrote: »

They weren't replaced. The Kings, Cheetahs and Western Force were simply cut from the tournament.

The Cheetahs and the Force sort of were replaced, albeit over the course of two years. There was a 15 team tournament they were in, then a 15 team tournament they weren't in, and Jaguares and the Sunwolves were.

swiwi_

[Deleted User] wrote: »

I was going to watch the Ulster game tomorrow as there is greater scope for a game of rugby and I think Munster will annihilate the Cheetahs.

I might switch over for the second half however with the prospect of crying into my tea when Carbery comes on!

I read that as comes out. In fairness, I did wonder if he was a closet Munster fan.

thomond2006

Beautiful weather here.

I really thought Stringer was about to say Cheetahs would shít the bed there.

Peregrine

Who's this young new Munster 10? He looks decent.

Ball dipped in butter before kick off.

There's a 3rd commentator in the stands...!

budhabob

Exceptional by sweetnam there. His turn of pace and step is phenomenal. Great support by scannell

budhabob

Deleted User wrote: »

There's a 3rd commentator in the stands...!

Handy calling and supporting each player ... "Gwan JJ"

Jesus there must be a stag group right under the sound system!

budhabob

Botha is a beast of a man, has been solid so far, haven't seen any carries from him yet but missed the start of the game.

budhabob

Munster with a decent pace on the ball, cheetahs are gonna be tired after 50 minutes, Munster should hopefully make hay then

budhabob

Really like the look of Cronin, good snappy pass, decent defender.

Edit: he also looks like a mini DOCII

budhabob

budhabob wrote: »

Botha is a beast of a man, has been solid so far, haven't seen any carries from him yet but missed the start of the game.

Well he can certainly move, some decent carries in the last 15 or so minutes.

thomond2006

Carbery and Arnold on to seal the BP I hope.

thomond2006

Poor miss from Schoeman.

ScrubsfanChris

Dan Goggin off for a HIA, Eir sport commentary none the wiser.

thomond2006

Cracker of a tackle from Daly earlier.

ScrubsfanChris

Haley not having a great debut

thomond2006

ScrubsfanChris wrote: »

Haley not having a great debut

Mixed bag alright after a promising start.

thomond2006

Nice line from TOD to score try #3.

Clegg

He's dead to me.

thomond2006

Cronin needs to work on his box kicks!

Carbery is on.

ScrubsfanChris

Great line by TOD and equally great delay and pass by Cronin, he's definitely heading up the rankings with this performance.

mangobob

Boooooooooooo.....

ScrubsfanChris

Whatever JJ does in his summer holidays, its not place kicking.

thomond2006

ScrubsfanChris wrote: »

Whatever JJ does in his summer holidays, its not place kicking.

It's strange, in his first spell at Munster his kicking was excellent.

ScrubsfanChris

Goggin back on after passing HIA

thomond2006

Very good game from TOD tonight.

Akrasia

Carvery's making a meal of it

ScrubsfanChris

No evidence to overturn that. Try was already given. Awful descicion.

Akrasia

Ah Billy, at least it's a lesson learned in a game we've won rather than a tournament deciding try

thomond2006

JJ seals the BP. Cheetahs on the bus out of here, messing around in their 22.

Akrasia

This cheetahs performance is pretty awful. They're just giving the ball away

ScrubsfanChris

JJ scores his own try under the posts, how convenient

Applause for Cronnin as he goes off, well deserved.

thomond2006

Cronin can be very happy with his debut.

thomond2006

Ref feeling sorry for Cheetahs. Stonewall card.

thomond2006

Sweetnam is my MOTM. Beautiful hands.

thomond2006

Sweetman interception try. Cheetahs phoning it in. The substitutions ruined any cohesion they had.

ScrubsfanChris

If ever a try can be called a gift......